Noah's amber-like eyes widened in shock as he gazed at the woman in the photo. It was indeed Aunt Luciana. It meant that Chloe was his grandfather's granddaughter—the person he had been betrothed to in childhood. A rush of hidden excitement surged within him.‘Just as I thought. How could someone as foolish as Ava possibly be Aunt Luciana's child?’"Noah?" Chloe noticed his dazed expression and waved in front of his eyes. "What's wrong?""N-nothing," Noah stammered. Realizing his momentary distraction, he quickly composed himself and put on a shy smile. "Your mom is truly captivating. I couldn't help but be entranced by her beauty."Chloe chuckled at his playful comment. "Are you just exaggerating?""Well, she possesses a unique beauty, much like yours, but with her own distinct qualities," Noah analyzed earnestly. He added, "She seems to embody the traditional type of woman, devoted and gentle."Chloe paused momentarily, considering his words, and then raised her thumb in approv
Desmond looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Certainly. I’d be delighted."Noah's mouth opened slightly. He wanted to speak further but Desmond interjected, "Having such a clever granddaughter and becoming in-laws with the Whitmans would be truly wonderful."Noah's inner joy abruptly halted, his voice growing flat. "Joseph doesn't treat Chloe well in the slightest. He left her outside in the pouring rain.""It's common for young couples to argue. Who knows. Maybe it was Chloe who didn't want to get into the car," Desmond replied."No, I saw Chloe today. Joseph mistreated her. There were bite marks on her neck," Noah said.A flush spread across Desmond's face. "You shouldn’t pay close attention to such details, my child."Noah subtly furrowed his brows. "Grandfather, do you really believe Joseph and Chloe are a good match?""They are well-suited in terms of social status and appearance," Desmond replied."Well, if Chloe truly was your granddaughter, does that mea
"Grandpa!" Chloe's voice rose with a tinge of fear as she desperately tried to stop Harold. "Our separation was not solely his fault. I deceived him too. Now that Xavia’s pregnant, it’s both his moral and logical responsibility. The situation is already set in stone. You don't have to go to such lengths for me. Please, let it end here.""If it were anyone else, I might let it go, but Xavia isn’t a woman of good character. Even if she gives birth to a child, don't expect her to ever set foot in the Whitman family!""But if you shut her out, what about the child growing inside her? That would be your own flesh and blood. Your great-grandchild," Chloe stated, her expression serious and her tone pleading. "Furthermore, I understand Joseph's attitude. Constantly pressuring him now will only put further strain on your relationship. He’s the closest person to you, so please don't let him harbor resentment over our already broken relationship."Harold was deeply moved by Chloe's heartfelt w
Chloe took a deep breath, determined not to let anger consume her. "If you insist on giving it, then go ahead." She would just perform her part perfectly and play along with him. She would return the money to him once Harold left.The corner of Joseph’s mouth curled as he retrieved a black supplementary card from his wallet and placed it on the bedside table. Chloe instantly recognized the card—it was the supplementary card he had given her before. When she had moved out of the villa, she had returned the card to him.There was no credit limit on this card, implying that as long as Joseph did not go bankrupt, she could continue to use it. They had once lived under the same roof, and back then, she had not felt anything odd about it. But now, using this supplementary card as divorce compensation felt oddly strange.Chloe parted her lips as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately, she remained silent. Joseph assumed her silence was due to the staggering amount of money involved
Chloe was taken aback. "That's Xavia. You've seen her photos before."Emily paused for a moment, then anger surged through her. "That's her? She's the one who used pregnancy to come in between you and Joseph?"Those words, spoken loudly and accompanied by a pointed finger, carried across the vicinity, catching the attention of the surrounding shoppers. They turned their gazes toward Xavia, their expressions filled with a mix of gossip and disdain.Xavia was trying on the latest fashions in a luxury boutique. Hearing the discussions, her expression remained unchanged, and she calmly walked over to greet Chloe."Are you also here to buy clothes, Ms. Chloe? What a coincidence," she said gracefully as if she had not heard Emily's insults. With warmth and gentleness, she asked, "I want to buy a gift for Joe to celebrate his upcoming fatherhood. Do you have any suggestions, Ms. Chloe?"Emily's anger flared up, and she lashed out, "Jeez, I've never met someone as shameless as you. What's
Xavia's smile froze on her face. "What are you talking about? If it's not Joseph's child, who else could it be?""Is that so? Well, that's good," Chloe replied calmly. Her gaze casually drifted toward a nearby suit, and she instructed the salesperson, "Please pack this suit for me."Xavia was perplexed. "Who are you buying that suit for?"'Is she buying it for Icarus? Did he already win her over? That's faster than I expected.'Chloe’s lips formed an elegant smile, enunciating each syllable clearly as she said, "Joseph."Xavia thought she must have misheard and repeated her question."I said I’m buying this outfit for Joseph." Chloe's eyes sparkled, her smile radiant. "Although we’re divorced, we can still be friends. You wouldn't mind, would you?"After all, Xavia had done the same thing. She approached Joseph under the guise of friendship. She even went to lengths and helped Chloe endure a stab. One could not deny that this woman was ruthless and had a sharper mind than Ava.
Joseph's gaze descended, fixating on the words written on the card. The impeccable handwriting reassured him that it was not Chloe who had written the card. He then proceeded to unbox the gift, revealing a suit that barely met the standards of a proper fit. While it was not a luxurious item, there was an unexplainable charm about it that caught his eye.Joseph's towering height of 1.86 meters bestowed upon him a commanding presence, allowing him to effortlessly carry any garment with grace and charm. Each button on his white shirt was fastened and the shirt's hem was neatly tucked into his trousers. His well-defined waistline emphasized his strong physique, adding to the magnetic appeal of his poised and enigmatic demeanor.The combination of his imposing stature, meticulous grooming, and confident demeanor captivated all those who beheld him.Lucas grinned. "It seems that Ms. Chloe still holds you in her heart."Perhaps she regretted her actions, wanting to reconcile but unable to
Joseph delicately towel-dried his hair and spoke with an air of indifference, "Can't you wait for four months?""It's not a matter of whether I can wait or not. It's that you don't trust me and don't want to be with me.""If it's my child, I'll take responsibility.""I agree, and I'm willing to do the amniocentesis. But after knowing each other for so many years, am I really so unworthy of your trust?!" Xavia's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She fought against their release, determined to keep them at bay.Joseph remained unmoved, his piercing gaze fixed upon her. "Did you sleep with Gabe?"Xavia's scalp tingled as she froze. She had guessed correctly. Gabriel must have told Joseph the truth!"Yes, I had a one-time encounter with him. But it happened before I met you. Can you say with one hundred percent certainty that you've never made any mistakes in your life?"Confronted with her accusations, Joseph remained calm and composed. "Since it w